Chelsea ‘keeping tabs’ on Arsenal star as shock transfer links emerge

Chelsea and Bayern Munich are both interested in signing one of Arsenal’s star performers from last season.

The Gunners have invested heavily in new recruits this summer and one of the areas they have improved is the goalkeeper department with David Raya earning his first start against Everton.

The former Brentford goalkeeper was called up to replace Aaron Ramsdale in the starting lineup and the England international was forced to settle for a place on the bench for the first time since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Raya impressed in his first appearance for Arsenal and helped his side to a clean sheet and a comfortable 1-0 victory.

Mikel Arteta’s decision to drop Ramsdale has raised doubts about his long term future at the Emirates Stadium and it remains to be seen whether he will return to the side for their upcoming tests against PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal.

This uncertainty has prompted speculation over a potential departure away from Arsenal - particularly with Euro 2024 on the horizon.

The Daily Mail claims London rivals Chelsea are currently monitoring the situation. The Blues signed Robert Sanchez in the summer but it remains likely that they will look to strengthen in the goalkeeping department.

Bayern Munich are another club which has been tipped to make a move for Ramsdale and the German giants are keen to sign a long term successor for Manuel Neuer - who turns 38 in March.

Despite speculation, Arteta has previously stated that both Raya and Ramsdale will play an active role in the team this season and he has spoken of his ambition to rotate them based on the opponent.

Arteta also told Sky Sports that he may even consider changing goalkeepers during a game in the future.

Arteta said: “It’s the same rationale as to why Fabio (Vieira) and Gabby [Jesus] played - I haven’t had a single question about why Gabriel hasn’t been starting. He has won more trophies than anybody else in that dressing room, including me.

"I want Aaron to react the same as Gabriel Jesus. The same as Kai Havertz, as Takehiro Tomiyasu. Exactly the same. We play with 11 players, not 10 plus one.”

He added: “I’m a really young manager, I’ve been in the job three and a half years. I have few regrets, but one of them is that on two occasions, I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes of two games in this period to change the goalkeeper in that moment.

“I didn’t do it, I didn’t have the courage to do it. But I’m able to take a winger or striker and put a centre-back on to play a back five to hold on to a result. We drew those games, and I was so unhappy.

“Someone is going to do it, and maybe [people will say] that’s strange. But why not? Tell me why not. You have all the qualities in another goalkeeper to do something, you want to change the momentum, do it.”

Based on Arteta’s comments it seems unlikely that he will allow Ramsdale to leave the club for a cheap price tag and it is likely that the former Sheffield United keeper will cost much more than the £30m that they paid for him back in 2021.

Ramsdale also signed a new contract with Arsenal in May which takes him until the summer of 2026, with an option to by a further 12 months.